these properties of tanks and copper piping. Most of the empty properties were vandalised in some way, while several were damaged in arson attacks and at least two residents had their cars damaged in arson attacks on neighbouring properties which had already been vacated. The estate also became a popular destination for fly tippers and joyriders dumping stolen cars in the run up to its demolition. The BNP Era On 1 May 2003, the British National Party gained one its first councillors, when Simon Darby was elected to the Castle and Priory ward (which includes the Priory Estate) in the council elections. The area had previously been represented by three Labour Party councillors. Darby had gained 26.2% of the vote in Castle and Priory a year earlier, and on being elected he obtained almost half of the votes cast. In 2003, Castle and Priory was the most deprived ward in the whole Dudley borough, and among the 7% most deprived wards in England. A number of asylum seekers had already been housed on the Priory Estate, much to the dismay of many white British neighbours, although this was just before the wave of Eastern European immigrants from new European Union member states including Poland and Romania. As late as 2003, just 23 asylum seekers were living on and around the Priory Estate, but they were already attracting resentment from British neighbours because Dudley MBC had reportedly been providing furnishings, televisions and refrigerators for free to all asylum seekers living in the borough, and this was making them appear wealthier than British people. Many local people also saw the BNP as the answer to the Priory Estate's many problems that were nothing to do with asylum seekers nor any other ethnic minorities. House repairs weren't being carried out efficiently, the local youth centre was rarely open and the estate office had closed – leaving residents without cars to travel a long distance to pay their rent. There was also anger that the European Union had spent millions of pounds during the 1990s on upgrading the neighbouring Wren's Nest Estate (which traditionally had an even worse reputation than the Priory), while the Priory Estate remained relatively short on investment. However, Darby's popularity with the electorate was short-lived. He resigned the following year, and once again Castle and Priory became a Labour stronghold. References External links Priory Primary School official website Buildings and